Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-12-16

the management of its Board Of
Directors and its capable Superin.
tendent, serves we'll its purposes.
The number of cOnyicts on the lst
of this month vas 900, 1870 beng
white and 770 cOlOred ; or lS5
white males, 7O6 colored males
5 white females and O. colored fe-
males 807 of them are in prison,
,115 on the South Atlantic and
Ohio railroad, and 80 in Russell
county.
There has not been much demand
for the convicts to work the public
roads of the Commonwealth under
laws already passed. Applications
are now aud then nade for them 10
work the railroads, but in conse-
qpence Of such projected roads not
being completed, and for other
reasons, in many cases such ap-
plicatiOns are not further insisted
upon.
In this connection | have the
honor to recommend that refOrma.
tory or industrial school be estab-
lished, either separate and detach-
ed from the penltentiary or in con-
uectlon Herewith, where youthful
criminals can be confined without
coming into contact with the older
and more hardened class of Offend
efs. There should be wide dis
crimination in the treatment OF a
boy convicted perhaps of his first
offence against the law and a man
who has probed to the bottom the
depths of crime. The punishment
of criminal youths should have a
reformatoTy as well as punitive
object, but it is impossible to put
into practice reformatory measures
where two classes of criminals
come into daily contact with each
other In the penitentiary at this
time there are 1917 criminals under
the age of twenty-One years.
would also recommend that a
law be passed placing in this re-
formatOry school all criminals un-
der eighteen years of age, and that
the Governor be empowered to
transfer from the penitentiary to
that reformatory school any other
criminal between the age OF
eighteen and twenty-one where
hope is held ont that such indul-
gence would not be misused and
there was a reasonable hope of re-
olamation.
P A system Of this sort has worked
satisfactorily in several Of the
States. During Gov. Hoadly's adj
ministEation in Ohio, of eighty
lboys thus released from the peni-
tentiary and transferred to the re-
formatory school, one became IN
sane, six went back to crime, aud
seyenty.three proved worthy of the
indulgence granted them. To re-
claim from life of crime even one
Young soul would be satisfactory
work.
With the growing population OF
l the State the number Of criminals
increases and an enlargement OF
the present penitentiary is already
demanded. By the proposed sepa-
rate arrangement for youthful Grim
inals additional room would be
| gained for the other classes Of
malafactOrs.
have the honor also to recon
mend that a system OF monthly in
spection of all jails in the State be
made by the Commonwealth's At
torney, or such local officer as the
Judge of the city or county in which
said jail may be located shall desig
nate, and a written report be made
to such Judge after each inspection
and such report be spread upor
the records.
The penal and charitable insti
tutions of the State will be inspect
ed by the Governor or some officer
designated by him as often as hi
may think proper and practicable.
vi have already peronally inspected
most OF these institutions, and
found their condition in every re
spect most creditable to thei
management.
VOLUNTEER TROOPS.
Since the 1st of January last th'
following volunteer troops hav'
been called ont by the civil au
thsrities to assist their officers il
preserving the peace in their re
spectlve localities, namely; OI
January 1Ith companies a and B
First regiment, under command o
| NJ; D;1oaod and fha Gfofa Gua rd